Category Charlesbridge Publishing

Apr 6 2026

Now available in paperback

Hi everyone,

I’m happy to say that Now You See Them Now You Don’t just came out in paperback. I haven’t had time to tell you yet that A Tree is a Community has also become available in paperback!

Now You See Them Now You Don’t was published by Charlesbridge, edited by KAREN BOSS, and illustrated by GILES LAROCHE. The book received a starred Kirkus Review and was chosen by Society of Midland Authors as best children’s nonfiction book published in 2016, by NCTE for its Notable Poetry Book List, and was nominated for the first Red Poppy Award. The cost of the paperback edition is $8.99.

A Tree is a Community was published by Holiday House, edited by GRACE MACCARONE, and illustrated by KATE COSGROVE. It also received a starred Kirkus Review. It has been translated into Portuguese and Korean. It was a Bank Street College Best Book List choice in 2024 and declared to be worthy of a Newbery Award nomination by Betsy Bird. The price of the paperback edition is also $8.99.

Jun 2 2025

Good news for Wild Brunch

Hi everyone,

I’ve learned that my most recent book with Charlesbridge — Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat — is one of 12 junior books selected for The North Carolina Children’s Book Award program for this coming school year. The program is sponsored by school and public librarians across the state. Children in North Carolina nominate their favorite books and a committee chooses the final twelve from that list. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, students across the state will be voting on the field of twelve.

Wild Brunch was illustrated by GILES LAROCHE and was named by School Library Journal among the Best Books of Poetry for Young People, 2024. It’s our third book together to form a trio. Now You See Them Now You Don’t was named a Notable Poetry Book by NCTE and chosen by Society of Midland Authors as the best children’s nonfiction book published in 2016.

A Place to Start a Family was selected for NSTA’s 2019 list of Outstanding Science Trade Books, Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Master List, 2019 – 2020, and Bank Street Best Books of the Year List, 2019.

Mar 6 2025

Off to sign some books

Hi everyone,

Today from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. you’ll find me at Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida. I’ll be on the front porch of that wonderful store, looking wistfully at patrons coming up the short flight of steps leading into the store, hoping that a few will stop to ask about my wares.

The temperature will be cool; it’s 47 at this early hour. I’ll be signing for the first time copies of 40 Poems for 40 Weeks as well as Wild Brunch and, I think, A Tree is a Community. Our place, where we started coming sixteen years ago, the same year I started my blog, is four miles down the road from Sundog Books. I believe I’ve signed on the front porch at least once in every year.

Dec 2 2024

Wild Brunch on SLJ Best Poetry list

Hi Everyone,

School Library Journal just published their “Best” lists for 2024 and I’m delighted that Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat, is one of their eleven favorite books of poetry for children. 

This book features thirteen different creatures and their eating habits in the form of free verse and ABAB poetry. It could be enjoyed by young readers wanting to learn more about the animal kingdom in a digestible picture book format, or by older readers who can dive into the poetic way this information is presented. Beautiful spreads with large and colorful depictions of each animal, from turkey vultures to aardvarks, make this also a very visually entertaining read as well.

I’m especially glad to see this book recognized because I chose to write most of the poems in free verse and it’s harder to catch and hold young readers’ attention with free verse than with poems that rhyme and have meter. When I was publishing my first books of poetry for children, I wrote several collections in verse before I felt brave enough to try one in free verse.

Wild Brunch is published by Charlesbridge Publishing and illustrated by my friend and colleague, GILES LAROCHE. It’s our third collaboration following Now You See Them Now You Don’t and A Place to Start a Family. Way to go, Giles! Now You See Them Now You Don’t was also on the SCL Best Poetry List and was chosen by Society of Midland Authors as best children’s nonfiction book published in 2016 That one is in verse.

NCTE Notable Poetry Book

Sep 18 2024

Wild Brunch

Hi everyone,

We just got our first review of Wild Brunch and it’s a good one. School Library Journal says, that it will be good for “young readers wanting to learn more about the animal kingdom in a digestible picture book format, or by older readers who can dive into the poetic way this information is presented. Beautiful spreads with large and colorful depictions of each animal, from turkey vultures to aardvarks, make this a very visually entertaining read as well… An excellent purchase for elementary nonfiction ­collections where animal facts and poetry can enhance readers’ experiences when they’re engaged with both.”

Getting a new book off the ground is always challenging. Since the Pandemic, fewer books are being reviewed by the traditional organizations and agencies and that hurts. A couple of kind souls have already posted their personal reviews, and of course I love and appreciate those efforts. If you haven’t ordered a copy yet but plan to, now would be a good time. Thanks to all for sharing news of the new title.

Wild Brunch is wonderfully illustrated by GILES LAROCHE, edited by KAREN BOSS, and published by CHARLESBRIDGE PUBLISHING. It’s a companion piece for Now You See Them Now You Don’t and A Place to Start a Family. Those who enjoyed the first two titles should like this one too.